New Douglas Park, Hamilton, Saturday 20 October 2001
Accies manager Ally Dawson was forced to make one change from the team that defeated Queen Of The South last week, with Martin Bonnar returning from suspension in place of injured captain Jim Sherry. Stuart Callaghan took charge of the captain's armband for the day.
The Bankies had a lot of experienced men in their team, none more so than their 45 year old goalkeeper Henry Smith.
The first real action of the first half was when David McNiven clattered into Smith after only a couple of minutes. The veteran was able to continue after lengthy treatment, but I wonder if this hampered his form in the second half. The Bankies were the better team for long spells in the first half, with Barry Lavety bringing an excellent save out of Graham Potter in the Accies goal. Lavety's partner Paul McGrillen had one of those days that has made him really unpopular with the Accies fans over the years. He had a spectacular dive in a vain attempt to win a penalty but was in football terms little more than an irritant.
Accies came really close to taking the lead after 19 minutes. Good play on the right from Stuart Callaghan ended with him sending a great cross over to Michael Moore at the back post. He won the ball in the air, steadied himself and then from about 4 yards out side-footed the ball against the foot of the post. The Accies fans sank back to their seats fearing that this was to be another of those frustrating days.
Before half time, the Bankies had a couple of long range shots that didn't really test Graham Potter and Derek Ferguson was booked for a foul.
SECOND HALF
Accies got off to a cracking start in the second half with two goals in the first 9 minutes. Both of them were partly due to goalkeeping howlers from Henry Smith (who had defied Accies for Hearts in the premier league at Douglas Park exactly 15 years earlier.) The first goal came when Stuart Callaghan fired in a swerving cross from the left. Henry rose to catch the ball but conveniently dropped it for David McNiven to fire home from point blank range. Naturally, this led to a few choruses of "Henry, Henry, drop the ball" from the Accies fans.
The Bankies tried to hit back straight away and Steven Renicks had to clear the ball off his own goal line within a minute of the restart. Accies came really close to doubling their lead when Martin Bonnar came close with a diving header that was well saved by Smith. They also came close when Mark Nelson played the ball out for a corner and came perilously close to scoring an own goal.
The second goal wasn't delayed for long however, with Steven Renicks picking out Michael Moore with a superb cross and his powerful downward header squirmed through Smith's legs.
Accies were really in charge at this stage, although the Bankies did cause them one or two anxious moments. Paul McGrillen fired in a powerful shot that was well saved by Potter and Barry Lavety had a couple of decent headers that came close. For one of them he clearly pushed the Accies defender out of the way well before the ball arrived but his attempt was just too high. They also came close when Mark Nelson played the ball out for a corner and came perilously close to scoring an own goal.
Clydebank made a double substitution in a vain attempt to salvage something from the game after 72 minutes. Veterans Ally Graham and Paul Kinnaird replaced Alex Burke and McColligan were replaced. Burke was very upset at being taken off and stormed up in the tunnel in a huff. I thought he had been the visitor's best player and he had given Michael Martin a bit of a doing in the second half. With the obvious aerial threat of Ally Graham, Ally Dawson put Sean Sweeney on for Martin Bonnar and the big man wasn't able to do any damage.
Substitute Gareth Armstrong (on for David McNiven) came close just after this with a good header that struck the bar before Moore clinched the game with a well taken third goal. Renicks picked him out with a fine cross and Moore calmly controlled the ball before stroking it past Smith.
Near the end, Armstrong was foiled by another good save by Smith, the ball broke to Moore but his shot was blocked.
CONCLUSION
Accies were perhaps flattered by the margin of the victory, although that's not to detract from their attacking play. The Bankies played quite well and on another day could have got something from the day. But it must be hard to get anything from a match when your gaolkeeper has a "Barthez".
Graham Potter had his best game for Accies and made a couple of vital saves. Steven Renicks did really well at the back and helped with a couple of the goals. Michael Martin did OK on the left but it's fortunate that few teams have aplayer as gifted as Alex Burke on their staff. The midfield did well, although I thought that Martin Bonnar had another poor game.
Ally Graham and Stuart Callaghan had good games as well with plenty of useful crosses being sent over for Michael Moore. Screech had a great game and has really developed into a good striker. It's amazing what the added confidence from a few goals can do to a player. David McNiven looks reasonably skilful, although I'm not sure if he should be given a contract.
Anyway, it would be churlish to criticise Accies after this performance. Clydebank will be one of the top teams this season, so to give them a 3-0 drubbing was brilliant.
Bring on the Berwick!
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